Plunger tube vapouriser



SONIA BORIS NEE JOKELSON 3,239,151

, March 8, 1966 PLUNGER TUBE VAPOURISER 5 sheets sheet 1 Filed March 25, 1964 March 1966 scum BORIS NEE JOKELSON 3,239,151

PLUNGER TUBE VAPOURISER Filed March 23, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 4

/// lllll March 8, 1966 PLUNGER TUBE VAPOURISER Filed March 23, 1964 SONIA BORIS NEE JOKELSON 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 m fm United States Patent 11 Claims. (01139-333 Vapourisers comprising a plunger tube through which the liquid to be vapourised is sucked and fed to avapou-rising jet, are already known, and this operation can be executed either mechanically or by the use of pressurised gas. Vapourisers of this type are open to the objection that they are not fully sealed when not in use. In other words, if the vapouriser is inverted the liquid can leak through the plunger tube and escape to the outside. Again, when the vapouriser is in the normal position the liquid can slowly evaporate and this situation is aggravated if the liquid is volatile as in the case of perfumes.

The present invention provides a plunger tube vapouriser which is fully sealed in the rest state and which, consequently, presents none of the aforementioned drawbacks. I According to the present invention a plunger tube vapouriser includes obturating means for sealing communication between the plunger tube and the vapourising jet which are connected by a common actuating element to obturating means for sealing the vessel holding the liquid to be vapourised from the atmosphere, and means for biasing both obturating means towards their closed positions.

Thanks to the provision of the two obturating means the vapouriser proposed in accordance with the invention is fully sealed when not in use. When the actuating element is operated, the plunger tube is able to communicate with the'vapourising jet and the liquid can consequently escape through the latter. In addition, since the vessel is at the sa-mertime opened to the outside atmosphere, no vacuum can form inside it and thus prevent the liquid from rising up through the plunger tube. A v i In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the obturating means are constituted by a valve which can cut off communication between the plunger tube and the vapourising jet, the valve spindle being surrounded by one or mor'esealing members which prevent any communication between the vessel containing the liquid and the outside air.

In the following, examples, which are in no way limitative of the scope of the invention, various embodiments of the proposed vapouriser are described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a first embodiinent, I

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view on a larger scale, of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1, the vapouriser being shown in the rest position, v

' FIGURE 3 is a similar view to FIGURE 2, the operating knob of the vapouriser being partly depressed.

FIGURE 4 is a similar view to FIGURE 3, this time of a second embodiment, and,

FIGURES 5 and 6 are similar views to FIGURE 2, of two further embodiments.

'As illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 3, the vapouriser comprises a cylindrical body '1 which constitutes a support member and which is designed for attachment in the form of a stopper to a vessel 2 which contains the liquid to'be vapourised.- Tothis end, a screwed sleeve 3, which is made of for example plastic, and which can be screwed onto'the neck'of the vessel 2, is press-fitted in the body 1.

3,239,151 Patented Mar. 8, 1966 "ice The body 1 contains a pumping chamber 4 the upper part of which is equipped with a flange 4a clamped between the base 1a of the body 1 and an internal shoulder 3a on the sleeve 3. The diameter of this internal shoulder is greater than the outer diameter of the pumping chamber sothat there is a clearance 20 between them.

The pumping chamber is extended at its lower portion in the form of a plunger tube 5 in which is housed a check valve 6.

In the pumping chamber 4, a sleeve 7 is slidably mounted this having an upper extension 7a. This extension passes through an opening -8 in thebase 1a, the diameter of which is less than that of the sleeve 7. Slidably mounted in the sleeve 7 and its extension 7:! is a tube 9 whose lower end is integral with a valve member 10. A spring 11 inserted between the valve and a seating washer 12-situated in the base of the pumping chamber, keeps the said valve against its bevelled seat 13 on the inside of the sleeve 7. A degree of clearance 14 is left between the inside wall of the sleeve 7 and the lower portion of the tube 9, said lower portion carrying an orifice 15.

The upper part of the tube 9 is attached to a knob '16 which shrouds the head of the body 1, and the tube 9 communicates through a drilling 17 with a vapourising jet 18 fixed in the side wall of this knob.

. Finally, the flange 4a of 'the chamber 4 carries an opening 19. j

' In the rest state, the spring 11 forces the valve 10 against its seat 13, this preventing any communication between the inside of the plunger tube 5 and the outside atmosphere. In addition, the force exerted by the spring on the valve is transmitted through the latter to the sleeve 7 forcing it against the base 1a. of the body 1 so that not only is the air prevented from penetrating inside the body through the aperture 8 but the liquid is prevented from escaping. Thus, the valve 10 and the sleeve 7 provide obturatin-g means which are connected to a common actuating element in the form of the knob 16.

When the user presses the knob '16, it moves downwards taking with it the valve 10 which leaves its seat. At the same time, the sleeve 7 also moves downwards either as a consequence of the friction between it and the tube 9 or because the end of its extension 7a comes into contact with the base of the .knob 16. The effect of this is to place the outside atmosphere in communication with the chamber 19 and, through the clearance 20, with the interior of the vessel 2 (FIGURE 3).

When the user releases the knob 16, the valve 10 reseatsitself (seat 13) and carries the sleeve 7 upwards back to its initial position in which it closes oh the aperture 8. This movement of the sleeve 7 has the elfect of creating a vacuum (underpressure) in the pumping chamber 4 which causes part of the liquid held in the vessel 2 to rise into the chamber. The liquid cannot return to the vessel 'because of the presence of the check valve 6.

When the knob '16 is depressed again, the liquid contained in the pumping chamber 4, not being able to return to the vessel 2, is forced into the annular space 14 by the descent of the sleeve 7 and from there through the orifice 15 to the interior of the tube 9. This liquid finally arrives at the jet 18 where it is vapourised. A quantity of air equivalent in volume to the liquid which is vapourised, enters the vessel 2 when the knob 16 is depressed, through the orifice 8, the chamber 19 and the clearance 20, this preventing the development of a vacuum in the vessel; any such vacuum would have the effect of preventing the liquid from rising up the plunger tube 5.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 4, a seal 21 is stuck to the outside of the body 1. This seal, in combination with the knob 16, formsan air compression chamber 22.

This chamber communicates with the exterior through a drilling 23 and a passage 24. The plunger tube 9 opens into this latter passage.

This embodiment operates in the same manner as that described earlier except that vapourisation is not effected mechanically being instead brought about by the air compressed in the chamber 22 when the knob 16 is depressed, this air escaping to the outside through the passage 24 and entraining the liquid entering this passage through the tube 9.

In FIGURE 5, the body 1 designed for attachment to a vessel containing the liquid to be vapourised, as well as the pumping chamber 4 complete with plunger tube and check valve 6, can be seen. This chamber is here press-fitted over a spigot 1b formed integrally with the body 1.

The spindle 25 of a valve 26 passes through the spigot 1b and its extremity 25a is threaded and screwed into an axial extension 16a of the knob 16. This spindle 25 has a central reduced portion 25b over which is slipped a sleeve seal 27 which is clamped axially by the extension 16a; the reduced portion is followed directly by the screwed portion 25a. The extension 16a of the knob 16 has a diameter only slightly smaller than the internal diameter 1b whilst the sleeve seal 27, made for example of rubber, rubs against the inside wall of the said spigot 1b. A seal 28 is provided on the inside face of the valve 26.

In the rest state, the valve 26 with its seal 28 is applied against the end of the spigot 1b by the springll, thus closing off the chamber 4. The sleeve seal 27 is in these circumstances situated in front of the mouth of a drilling 29 which communicates with the opening 19 in the flange 4a.

The spindle 25 carries an axial drilling 30 into the lower portion of which a radial drilling 31 opens out and which, at its upper end, communicates with the jet 18 through a hole 32 formed in the knob 16. From the foregoing, it will be evident that the vapouriser is sealed in the rest state since the spring 11 forces the valve 26 onto its seat, the sleeve seal 27 at the same time closing off the mouth of the passage 29.

When the knob 16 is depressed, the valve 26 with its spindle 25, penetrating into the chamber 4, forces the liquid contained in the chamber up to the jet 18 through the drillings 30 and 31 and the hole 32.

In addition, the extension 1611 of the knob 16 closes off the passage 29 instead of the sleeve 27, and the vessel containing the liquid to be vapourised is simultaneous- 1y placed in communication with the outside atmosphere through the aperture 19, the drilling 29 and the annular clearance existing between the extension 16a and the spigot 1b.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 6, the jet 18 is attached to the body 1 of the vapouriser instead of being carried in the knob 16, the latter then moving freely in a recess 33 provided in the upper part of the body.

The spindle 25 is in this case solid and has an external diameter which is less than the internal diameter of the spigot 1b. The annular space 34 thus created between the spindle and the spigot communicates with the jet through an orifice 35.

The central portion 25b of the spindle 25 carries two ring seals 36 spaced apart by sleeves 37 in such a manner as to be held in location between the lower end of the spindle and the extension 16a of the knob 16. These seals are located at either side of the mouth of the passage 29 when the vapouriser is in the rest position.

At rest, the vapouriser is fully sealed since the passage 29 is isolated from the outside atmosphere by the upper seal whilst the valve 26 is on its seat.

When the user presses the knob 16, the liquid contained in the pumping chamber 4 is forced up to the jet 18 through the annular space 34 and the orifice 35. At

the same time, the upper seal 36 moves downwards past the mouth of the passage 29 thus allowing the vessel containing the liquid to be vapourised to communicate with the outside atmosphere.

In the embodiments of FIGURES 5 and 6, the vapouriser is of particularly simple construction since a single element, that is, the valve 26 with its spindle 25, performs a triple function. At rest, it seals off the pumping chamber 4 by isolating it from the vapourising jet 18; likewise at rest, it seals off the vessel containing the liquid, isolating it from the outside atmosphere; and in operation it acts as a displacing piston which forces the liquid contained in the pumping chamber 4 up towards the vapourising jet 18.

I claim:

1. In an atomizer for mounting on a vessel containing a liquid to be atomized, the combination of means defining a liquid pumping chamber having a plunger tube extending therefrom to receive liquid from the vessel, atomizing jet means, first passage means for communicating said jet means with said plunger tube by way of said pumping chamber, second passage means for venting the liquid-containing vessel to the atmosphere, piston means movable in said pumping chamber to vary the effective volume thereof, first obturating means for closing said first passage means and thereby sealing communication between said plunger tube and said jet means, second obturating means for closing said second passage means, control means operatively connected with said piston means and said first and second obturating means and being manually actuatable to move said piston means in the direction for reducing the effective volume of said chamber so as to pump liquid from said chamber to said jet means and simultaneously to open both said first and second obturating means, and a single spring acting on said control means to urge both said first and second obturating means to closed positions thereof and to urge said piston means in the direction for increasing the effective volume of said chamber so as to draw liquid into the latter through said plunger tube.

2. An atomizer as in claim 1; wherein said piston means and said first and second obturating means are arranged coaxially.

3. An atomizer as in claim 2; wherein said first passage means has an opening into said pumping chamber through said piston means and said opening is surrounded by a valve seat, and said first obturating means includes a valve member engageable with said seat.

4. An atomizer as in claim 3; wherein said second obturating means includes a sealing surface formed on said piston means to close said second passage means upon movement of the piston means in the direction for increasing the eflective volume of said pumping chamber.

5. An atomizer as in claim 4;

wherein said control means is fixedly connected with said valve member and said piston means has an abutment thereon engageable by said control means following a predetermined displacement of the latter for unseating said valve member.

6. An atomizer as in claim 2; further comprising support means for mounting the atomizer on the liquidcontaining vessel; and wherein said control means cooperates with said support means to define an air compressing chamber the volume of which is reduced by actuation of said control means, and said air compressing chamber communicates with said jet means to supply compressed air for atomizing the liquid pumped to said jet means from said pumping chamber.

7. An atomizer as in claim 2; wherein said first passage means opens into said pumping chamber through one end of the latter, said piston means includes a spindle movable through said one end into said pumping chamber and carrying a piston head within said chamher, and said first obturating means includes a sealing ring at the side of said piston head facing said one end of the pumping chamber to seal said first passage means upon movement of said piston head against said one end.

8. An atomizer as in claim 7; wherein said control means is fixedly connected to said spindle, and said second obturating means includes sealing means fixed on said spindle.

9. An atomizer as in claim 8; further comprising support means for mounting the atomizer on the liquid-containing vessel, said support means having a bore slidably receiving said spindle and said second passage means extending through said support means and opening at said bore.

10. An atomizer as in claim 9; wherein said jet means is mounted on said control means and said first passage means extends through said spindle and control means to said jet means; and

wherein said sealing means constituting the second obturating means is in the form of a sealing sleeve located on said spindle for blocking said opening of the second passage means at said bore when said piston head is against said one end of the pumping chamber.

11. An atomizer as in claim 9; wherein said jet means 2 is mounted on said support means and said first passage means includes a portion of said bore spaced axially from the opening of said second passage means into said bore; and

wherein said sealing means constituting the second obturating means is in the form of two spaced sealing rings engaging the surface of said bore and being located at opposite sides of the opening of said second passage means into said bore when said piston head is against said one end of the pumping chamber.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,834,683 11/1931 Custer 239353 1,979,455 10/ 1934 Custer et al 239-353 2,665,170 1/1954 Schmitt et al 239-353 3,008,651 11/1961 Follain 239-353 3,092,331 6/1963 Kiashek 239-355 3,161,329 12/1964 Fedit et a1. 239333 3,162,372 12/1964 Viard 239-361 FOREIGN PATENTS 308,255 12/ 1929 Great Britain.

M. HENSON WOOD, 111., Primary Examiner.

EVERETT W. KIRBY, Examiner.

R. S. STROBEL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN AN ATOMIZER FOR MOUNTING ON A VESSEL CONTAINING A LIQUID TO BE ATOMIZED, THE COMBINATION OF MEANS DEFINING A LIQUID PUMPING CHAMBER HAVING A PLUNGER TUBE EXTENDING THEREFROM A RECEIVE LIQUID FROM THE VESSEL, ATOMIZING JET MEANS, FIRST PASSAGE MEANS FOR COMMUNICATING SAID JET MEANS WITH SAID PLUNGER TUBE BY WAY OF SAID PUMPING CHAMBER, SECOND PASSAGE MEANS FOR VENTING THE LIQUID-CONTAINING VESSEL TO THE ATMOSPHERE, PISTON MEANS MOVABLE IN SAID PUMPING CHAMBER TO VARY THE EFFECTIVE VOLUME THEREOF, FIRST OBTURATING MEANS FOR CLOSING SAID FIRST PASSAGE MEANS AND THEREBY SEALING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID PLUNGER RUBE AND SAID JET MEANS, SECOND OBTURATING MEANS FOR CLOSING SAID SECOND PASSAGE MEANS, CONTROL MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED WITH SAID PISTON MEANS AND SAID FIRST AND SECOND OBTURATING MEANS AND BEING MANUALLY ACTUATABLE TO MOVE SAID PISTON MEANS IN THE DIRECTION FOR REDUCING THE EFFECTIVE VOLUME OF SAID CHAMBER SO AS TO PUMP LIQUID FROM SAID CHAMBER TO SAID JET MEANS AND SIMULTANEOUSLY TO OPEN BOTH SAID FIRST AND SECOND OBTURATING MEANS, AND A SINGLE SPRING ACTING ON SAID CONTROL MEANS TO URGE BOTH SAID FIRST AND SECOND OBTURATING MEANS TO CLOSED POSITIONS THEREOF AND TO URGE SAID PISTON MEANS IN THE DIRECTION FOR INCREASING THE EFFECTIVE VOLUME OF SAID CHAMBER SO AS TO DRAW LIQUID INTO THE LATTER THROUGH SAID PLUNGER TUBE. 